Review: NatureGlo’s eScience – MathArt Bundle

The Hubby and I advocate literacy and numeracy. We also are always on the lookout for ways to teach and learn Math, and for ways to relate Math to the real world. That's why when the MathArt Online 4-Class Bundle from NatureGlo's eScience came up for review, I immediately begged for it.

I was intrigued by the Math Connections in the Real World, which covers Fibonacci numbers and the Golden Ratio and how it has been used in art, architecture, and nature. The other courses in the bundle are MathArt in Ancient Cultures, MathArt in the Arts & Sciences, and MathArt - Patterns in Nature. Each course has six main lessons, with one lesson per week. Each lesson, how ever, is further broken down into several activities comprising videos, readings, projects, and quizlets. Each lesson could well last more than a week, given the complexity of the subject and the number of activities.

A page from the lapbook template PDF

These courses were pre-recorded as live online classes, and you can hear some of the students reading material out loud, or interacting with Gloria Brooks, the creator of NatureGlo. She takes you through each lesson using a PowerPoint slideshow, which you can also download. The downloads also include other materials such as a study guides, and a lapbook template (this one is something the girls haven't made yet, but I think they will enjoy). There is also an additional list of resources, including more videos, informative websites, and suggested activities.

We focused on the Math Connections in the Real World for this review. Initially, we started out with just Raine, my soon-to-be 11-year-old going through the course. Then Raine encountered the "How Far to Turn" exercise, which showed how plants naturally spiral out--like sunflower seeds, or flower petals, or leaves. anyway, the simulation was intriguing enough to bring Breeze (who will be 8 in a couple of months) over. Soon they were both experimenting with the numbers. When Raine was done doing some of the lessons, Breeze asked to do some lessons on her own.

Raine started out doing the Fibonacci series by herself

The embedded app that caught Breeze's attention

Breeze was intrigued enough to join Raine

Finally Breeze asked to do the program on her own

The main takeaway for both girls was the Fibonacci sequence itself. We haven't discussed this in any lesson yet, but they were both intrigued by the pattern. Both of them like discovering patterns and special number properties. Last March 6, for example, Raine said, out of the blue, "Today is a special day, because if you multiply 3 by 6, you get 18!"--referring to the date March 6, 2018. Then both girls got started on naming the other 'special' dates this year, such as June 3 and September 2. Then Breeze added a new twist: October 8 was also a special day, because 10 + 8 = 18...and so on.

Other than that, most of the material seemed way over the girls' heads (the courses are recommended for ages 10 and up), even mine. It was a very technical presentation, and somewhat dry. Although when I asked the girls, they said they liked it; I guess it's Mommy's issue. I actually appreciated the TED Talks on the Fibonnaci sequence (links to the videos were included in the lessons) more. I felt that they explained the concepts more clearly.

I do appreciate the curated materials that are used in the course. And I am thankful for the opportunity to discuss Fibonacci, patterns, and the like with the girls. Raine also loved the quizlets--she enjoyed the time challenge of making the matched facts disappear.

We will finish up the Math Connections in the Real World, and will go on to try the other courses.